ise when the door was opened to
see the King and his suite.

'I know,' said the King, 'that you are plotting against my crown and
person, and I have come to have an explanation with you.'

As she was about to answer Prince Alphege, who had heard all, came
forward and said, 'It is from me you must ask an explanation, brother.'
He spoke with such grace and dignity that everyone gazed at him with
mute surprise.

At length the King, recovering from his astonishment at recognising the
brother who had been lost some years before, exclaimed, 'Yes, you are
indeed my brother, and now that I have found you, take the throne to
which I have no longer a right.' So saying, he respectfully kissed the
Prince's hand.

Alphege threw himself into his arms, and the brothers hastened to the
royal palace, where in the presence of the entire court he received
the crown from his brother's hand. To clear away any possible doubt, he
showed the ruby which the Good Queen had given him in his childhood. As
they were gazing at it, it suddenly split with a loud noise, and at the
same moment the Wicked Queen expired.

King Alphege lost no time in marrying his dear and lovely Zayda, and
his joy was complete when the Good Queen appeared at his wedding. She
assured him that the Fairy of the Mountain had henceforth lost all
power over him, and after spending some time with the young couple,
and bestowing the most costly presents on them, she retired to her own
country.

King Alphege insisted on his brother sharing his throne, and they all
lived to a good old age, universally beloved and admired.

FAIRER-THAN-A-FAIRY

Once there lived a King who had no children for many years after his
marriage. At length heaven granted him a daughter of such remarkable
beauty that he could think of no name so appropriate for her as
'Fairer-than-a-Fairy.'

It never occurred to the good-natured monarch that such a name was
certain to call down the hatred and jealousy of the fairies in a body on
the child, but this was what happened. No sooner had they heard of this
presumptuous name than they resolved to gain possession of her who bore
it, and either to torment her cruelly, or at least to conceal her from
the eyes of all men.

The eldest of their tribe was entrusted to carry out their revenge. This
Fairy was named Lagree; she was so old that she only had one eye and one
tooth left, and even these poor remains she had to keep all night in a
strengthening